Downtown businesses, download a construction poster today to help inform your customers of the upcoming changes.

May 2018

Visit us May 3 & 4 at the Lethbridge Seniors Citizens Organization for the Live Well Showcase where you can demo the new parking kiosks.

As the new parking system is installed over the next few weeks please continue to use the parking meters currently in place. The signage and kiosks being put up in the downtown will not be relevant and operational until the system is turned on at the end of the month.

March 2018 Our new parking kiosks demo machines have arrived. Stop by City Hall or the Downtown Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) to test it out. We'll also have a machine at the Home & Garden Show at Lethbridge Exhibition Park March 21-24.

The installation of the downtown kiosks and signage will happen in April and May. Please continue to use the parking meters until they are hooded and you are directed to use the kiosks instead. The system is expected to be operational in late May.

August 2017​​​The procurement process​ is now complete and a vendor has been selected to provide Lethbridge's new parking meter technology.

The successful vendor anticipates having the required equipment available by late fall which would push installation and system launch into the winter months. We understand that introducing the new system when it is cold and snowy outside, may not be ideal for the community. As such, we are planning for a spring 2018 launch.

This does not mean work on the project will halt. Concrete work will begin shortly in preparation for spring installation. Work is also underway with the vendor to secure a demo machine can be used over the winter months to educate residents on how the system will operate. ​

June 2017A request for proposals was open to potential vendors until June 14, 2017. It is anticipated a vendor will be chosen by late July. Once this decision has been made, more definite timelines around installation and project completion can be shared with the community.

About the Project

The primary
objective of paid and time zoned parking in downtown Lethbridge is to
achieve parking turnover which results in equitable availability of
parking to shoppers and visitors to downtown. This also helps foster a
vibrant downtown with increased business activity and revenue
opportunities for the downtown businesses.

This project will replace the aging downtown parking meter infrastructure and expand the pay-parking zones in the remaining areas of the downtown.

This program will consider options for replacement of the aging parking meter infrastructure in downtown Lethbridge with new parking meters and alternative payment technology. It will expand the on-street pay-parking in the remaining areas of the downtown.

The Need

There are currently a little over 1,500 parking meters in the Downtown. Approximately 95% of the parking meter infrastructure, parking meter housings and support poles are greater than 25 years old. These housings and poles are starting to show signs of wear and look unkept. Many of the meters cannot be reprogrammed to accept new coins or other payment methods. The outdated meter housings are also susceptible to vandalism. Maintenance of our current parking meters continues to be a challenge and we expect this challenge to increase exponentially, as the infrastructure ages.

Public Engagement

Over
the past year the City of Lethbridge has reached out to the community for
feedback on the upcoming Parking Meter Technology Upgrade. This feedback has
aided in determining the preferred option and number of parking pay stations
for the new system.

Feedback from the Public Engagement Session
held in December 2015 and the subsequent online surveys showed that 81% of
respondents preferred the hybrid option (the same option recommended by Walker
Parking Consultants). The hybrid option consists of Pay-by-Plate multi-space pay
stations with mobile license plate recognition enforcement and single space
smart parking meters at each barrier free/accessibility parking stall and in
two isolated locations on 1st Avenue South.

Feedback from the Public Engagement Session
held in June 2016 and the subsequent online surveys showed that 57% of
respondents would like to see 170 multi-space pay stations. This option will
mean that on average individuals will have to walk less than 10 angled stalls
(5 parallel parking stalls) to the nearest machine.

June 15, 2016

The City of Lethbridge hosted a public feedback session on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. During this session participants: